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BUSINESS SECTORS
Apart from online marketing and trading,
the platform will indirectly provide the data
collection for the Syariah-compliant products
and the traceability of its supply chain that
provide assurances for the Muslim end user,
with the greater prospective of enhancing the
exposure and the better understanding of BIMP-
EAGA region within the global perspective.
On December 2, 2020, a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) was signed on Syariah
Compliance Products Development and Trade
between the BD-BEBC and Taiwan External
Trade Development Council (TAITRA).
The MoU signing propels the development of
the Halal economy in the BIMP-EAGA region
with the primary focus on Halal products and
certifications. The MoU has been endorsed by
BIMP-EAGA Business Councils for BD-BEBC to
play a leading role in developing BIMP-EAGA as
one of the biggest special Halal economy zones.
The MoU is also focussed on investment
opportunities in the Halal economy with potential
for joint ventures between Brunei Darussalam
and Taiwan.
According to the PEW Research Centre, the
world Muslim population is projected to
increase to nearly three billion from 1.86 billion
by 2060, said BD-BEBC Vice Chairman Captain
(Rtd) Zailan bin Pehin Datu Kerma Setia Major
(Rtd) Dato Seri Laila Jasa Mohd Don. The Asia-
Pacific region, with almost one billion Muslims,
is becoming one of the largest potential markets
for Halal products.
He added that the implementation of the Syariah
Law in Brunei Darussalam should provide an
ideal platform for BIMP-EAGA in developing the
Halal economy policy to progress development
in industrial growth and provide facilitation
to businesses participating in the Halal
economy, expected to reach USD4 trillion in the
Asia-Pacific region.
Halal and Islamic goods and services provide
ethical options for consumers looking for clean,
wholesome solutions, which thus extends to
Halal food, Halal travel and tourism, modest
fashion, Halal media and recreation, Halal
pharmaceuticals, Islamic finance logistics and
any other aspects. The possibilities are vast.
In Brunei, the Halal certification is issued by the
Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) under
the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA).
The Halal Food Control Division is responsible
for the enforcement of Halal Meat Act, Chapter
183 and its regulations, and Halal Certificate
and Halal Label Order (2005). Under this order,
all restaurants and food manufacturers catering
to the Muslim community must obtain a Halal
certificate as well as Halal branding.
One notable recent development for Brunei’s
Halal industry was the launch of Plantasti, the
world’s first Halal plant-based meat ‘Ready to
Eat Meals’ on October 31, 2020.
It is the latest product under Saahtain Asia
Sdn Bhd, a joint venture company between the
United Arab Emirates based Saahtain Group
and the Strategic Development Capital Fund of
the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE) of
Brunei Darussalam.
The Plantasti product range will be available at
selected outlets in Brunei Darussalam. The first
export market will be Sweden with a local food
distributor.
BMC Food Industries, which is under TGT Group
of Companies, collaborated with four Japanese
companies to come up with three Chibo products,
eight Kanda products, five Ginrei products and
one Harry’s product.
The collaboration came from years of discussion,
product-testing
between
the
Japanese
companies and BMC with the continuous efforts
of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN
and East Asia (ERIA) which played a pivotal role
in bringing the parties together.